Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist (SHH)

Description: SCHEDULE: 40 hours, Monday, Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Nights and Weekends as needed during adverse weather conditions Pay: $23.48 - $26 per hour DOE (Salary ranges provided are based on relevant experience and skill set) LOCATION: 105 Chauncy Street, the Streets & community-based work The Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist will spend 65% of their time in the office and 35% of their time on the streets. SUMMARY OF THE POSITION: The Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist will work within the Outreach Department to provide housing navigation support to unsheltered homeless guests, working in collaboration with Outreach Specialists and Clinicians. This targeted housing placement and stabilization work will utilize a “Housing First” approach and will assist program participants to move into and sustain permanent housing and include, and not be limited to, organizing document collection, enrolling clients in mainstream benefits, filling out housing applications, accompanying guests to unit showings and lease signings, and providing referrals to community based services. The Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist will provide office and community-based stabilization services once the individual is placed into housing as outlined by specific benchmarks set by funders and industry best practices. Extreme weather conditions may dictate that the HPSS provides support for emergency street outreach with BHOT. This position is considered an essential employee for the PSI. Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist will work from the following principles: Shelter is a temporary safety net, not a homeAll people experiencing homelessness, regardless of their housing history and duration of homelessness, can achieve housing stability in permanent housingEveryone is “housing ready.” Sobriety, compliance in treatment, or even a clean criminal history is not necessary to succeed in housing. Rather, homelessness programs and housing providers must be “consumer ready”Engage guests’ strengths and assets to move as rapidly as they can tolerate, into permanent housingYou will be working as a member of a larger team, asking for help and providing it to others as needed. Recognize the impact of violence and victimization on development and coping strategies Employ an empowerment model Maximize guest choices and control over her/his recovery supported by an alliance with staffCreate an atmosphere that is respectful of the guests’ need for safety, respect, and acceptance Emphasize the guests’ strengths, highlighting adaptations over symptoms and resilience over pathology Minimize the possibilities of re-traumatization Strive to be culturally competent and to understand each person in the context of his or her life experiences and cultural background Solicit guest input and involve guests in designing and evaluating services Requirements: EDUCATION/TRAINING: Required: Associate’s Degree in a human services related field [can be substituted for High School Diploma and three (3) years of equivalent experience in a social service setting.]Valid Driving license in good standing Preferred: Undergraduate degree, certification, training, or formal education in counseling and case managementBilingualTraining in Trauma Informed Care, Progressive Engagement, and Motivational Interviewing KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE: REQUIRED: Minimum of six (6) months of experience working with homeless or similar population, providing direct care and/or active case management and referral services to homeless individuals or similar populationCapacity for working collaboratively on a multi-disciplinary team Affinity for considering and working with new approaches and expressing their own in a group settingStrong written communication and documentation skillsComputer proficiency in Microsoft Office Products, including Excel and OutlookKnowledge of the issues related to homelessness, particularly around housing, substance use, mental illness and economic factors as precipitants to homelessnessA working knowledge of homeless referral networksKnowledge and belief in “Housing First” philosophy and strategiesBasic math skills and budgeting experience PREFERRED: One (1) year experience working with homeless population, providing direct careExtensive experience with case management, housing placement, and landlord engagementExperience with Clarity, or similar HMIS systemKnowledge of tenant rights, and responsibilities as well as “Strengths based” Case ManagementExperience with case conferencing with challenging presentations